ggk.thelionsofal-rassan-第111节

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Twenty　years　ago；　new　to　belief；　Yazir　used　to　try　to　prehend　what　that　meant。　He　would　run　grains　of　sand　through　his　hand　while　gazing　at　the　heavens。
　　He　was　beyond　such　testing　now。　Understanding　of　the　god　was　only　for　one　such　as　Ashar；　worthy　of　the　gift　of　vision。　What　could　a　simple　warrior　do　but　bow　his　head　and　worship　before　such　unimaginable　vastness？
　　Stars　of　the　heavens　like　the　sands　of　the　desert？　What　could　any　man　do　but　humble　himself　and　serve；　praying　by　day　and　night　for　mercy　and　grace；　understanding　that　he　was　only　a　part…less　than　a　grain　in　the　drifting　sands…of　the　larger；　unheard　purpose　of　the　god。
　　How　could　men　grow　swollen　with　pride；　nourish　delusions　of　their　worth　or　the　worth　of　the　frail；　vain　things　they　made；　if　they　truly　believed　in　Ashar　and　the　stars？　That；　Yazir　ibn　Q'arif　thought；　was　a　question　he　would　like　to　ask　the　kings　of　Al…Rassan。
　　The　night　was　mild；　though　Yazir　could　sense　a　hint　of　winter　to　e　in　the　wind　from　the　sea。　Not　long　now。　Two　moons　were　riding　among　the　stars；　the　blue　one　waxing　and　the　white　one　a　waning　crescent　in　the　west　beyond　the　last　of　the　land。
　　Looking　at　the　moons；　he　was　thinking　about　the　Kindath；　as　it　happened。
　　He　had　only　met　one　of　them　in　all　his　life；　a　barefoot　wanderer　in　a　belted　robe　who　had　e　ashore　years　ago　at　a　trading　station　on　the　coast　east　of　Abeneven。　The　man　had　asked　to　meet　the　leader　of　the　tribes　and　had　been　brought；　eventually；　to　Yazir。
　　The　Kindath　had　not　been　a　man　as　most　men　were；　he　was　not　even　typical　of　his　own　people。　He　had　said　as　much　to　Yazir　at　their　first　meeting　on　the　sands。　Hardened　by　years　of　travel；　his　skin　burnt　dark　and　weathered　by　wind　and　sun；　he　reminded　Yazir　of　no　one　so　much　as　ibn　Rashid；　the　wadji　who　had　e　to　the　Zuhrites　long　ago…heretical　as　such　a　thought　might　have　been。　He　had　the　same　long；　untended　white　beard；　the　same　clear　eyes　that　seemed　to　look　at　something　behind　or　beyond　what　other　men　saw。
　　He　was　journeying　through　many　lands；　the　Kindath　said；　writing　of　his　travels；　recording　the　glorious　places　of　creation；　speaking　with　men　of　all　faiths　and　beliefs。　Not　to　preach　or　cajole　as　the　wadjis　did；　but　to　deepen　his　own　sense　of　wonder　at　the　splendor　of　the　world。　He　laughed　often；　that　Kindath　traveler；　frequently　at　himself；　telling　tales　of　his　own　ignorance　and　helplessness　in　countries　of　which　Yazir　had　not　even　known　the　names。
　　He　spoke；　during　his　sojourn　with　Yazir's　people；　of　the　world　as　having　been　made　by　more　than　one　god；　and　as　only　one　dwelling　place　among　many　for　the　children　of　creation。　This　was　heresy　beyond　prehension。　Yazir　remembered　wondering　if　even　to　hear　it　condemned　him　to　the　darkness　far　from　Paradise　when　he　died。
　　It　appeared　that　there　was　a　sect　of　the　Kindath；　an　ancient　tribe；　that　taught　of　these　other　worlds　scattered　among　the　stars；　far　beyond　the　moons　that　wandered　the　night。
　　Ashar's　starry　visions　had　been　right；　the　traveller　confided　to　Yazir；　but　so　were　the　wiser　prophets　of　Jad；　and　so；　in　truth；　were　the　Kindath　sages　who　had　seen　goddesses　in　the　moons。　All　these　teachings　revealed　a　part…but　only　a　part…of　the　mystery。
　　There　were　other　deities；　other　worlds。　There　was　one　god　above　all；　ruler　of　stars　and　sun　and　moons；　of　all　the　worlds。　No　man　knew　the　name　of　this　most　high　lord。　Only　in　the　world　that　had　been　made　first；　the　world　all　others…including　their　own…had　followed　into　Time　was　that　name　known　and　spoken。
　　Only　there　did　the　Supreme　One　allow　knowledge　of　himself；　and　there　the　gods　did　him　homage。
　　They　had　broken　bread　together　for　several　mornings　and　nights；　and　spoken　of　many　things。　Then　the　Kindath　traveller　had　begged　leave　to　go　alone　from　Yazir's　camp　that　he　might　travel　the　vast　and　mighty　Majriti　desert　and　worship　the　splendor　thereof。
　　Ghalib；　who　had　been　listening　to　some　of　what　had　been　said　over　the　past　days；　had　asked　Yazir's　permission…unusual；　for　him…to　follow　and　kill　the　man　because　of　his　impieties。　Yazir；　torn　by　the　burden　of　a　host　towards　a　guest　and　the　spiritual　duties　of　a　leader　to　his　people；　had　given　his　consent；　reluctantly。　One　more　transgression　for　which　Ashar　would　have　to　grant　forgiveness　when　Yazir's　time　came　to　be　judged。
　　That　strange　man　had　been　the　only　one　of　the　Kindath　he'd　ever　met。
　　Two　days　ago　a　letter　had　e；　delivered　by　a　tribesman　crossing　back　to　the　desert　from　Tudesca。　It　had　been　carried　before　that　by　messengers　across　most　of　Al…Rassan。　It　had　begun　as　a　note　tied　to　a　pigeon's　leg；　carried　out　from　besieged　Ragosa。
　　It　was　from　the　sorcerer　himself；　Mazur　ben　Avren。
　　After　it　had　been　read　to　him；　three　times；　by　a　scribe；　Yazir　had　walked　from　his　tent　and　mounted　a　camel　and　ridden　into　the　desert　alone　to　think。
　　He　was　still　thinking；　tonight　under　the　stars。　He　had　a　decision　to　make…one　that　might　shape　the　destiny　of　his　people…and　no　more　time　for　delay。　To　delay　further　was　to　decide。
　　Ghalib　was　ready　to　cross　to　Al…Rassan；　Yazir　knew　that。　Ghalib　wanted　to　go　where　there　was　already　war；　to　test　himself　and　his　tribesmen。　To　die；　if　it　came　to　that；　with　a　red　sword　in　his　hand；　battling　in　Ashar's　name。　The　surest　path　to　Paradise。
　　The　Kindath　traveller；　years　ago；　hadn't　named　that　first　world　where　the　one　true　god　reigned。　He'd　said　the　name　was　another　mystery。　Yazir　wished　he'd　never　heard　the　tale。　It　refused　to　leave　him；　still。
　　Ragosa　will　not　hold　out　until　winter；　as　matters　now　stand；　Mazur　ben　Avren　had　written。　But　if　you　so　much　as　land　at　Tudesca；　and　e　no　further　this　autumn　than　Aljais　or　Cartada；　the　Jalarans　here　will　be　greatly　afraid　and　our　people　will　take　heart。　I　believe　we　can　endure　if　this　happens；　and　in　spring　we　may　turn　them　back。
　　Ghalib　had　said　the　same　thing。　He　wanted　to　land　before　winter；　to　let　the　Jaddites　fear　their　presence　and　push　forward　no　further。　Yazir　had　been　inclined　to　wait…for　more　ships；　more　men；　and　most　of　all；　for　tidings　from　Soriyya；　towards　which　a　Jaddite　army　was　sailing　even　now。
　　What　did　a　pious　man　do　when　he　was　asked；　desperately；　for　aid　in　two　different　fields　of　holy　war？
　　It　has　e　to　me　as　a　thought；　Mazur　ben　Avren's　letter　went　on；　that　one　reason　you　hesitate　to　relieve　us　from　this　peril　is　my　own　presence　in　Ragosa。　King　Badir　is　a　good　man　and　a　wise　king；　beloved　of　his　people。　If　it　will　ease　the　burden　of　decision　that　lies　upon　you；　know　that　I　am　ready　to　leave　this　city　should　you　send　word。
　　Leave　the　city？　One　did　not　leave　besieged　cities。　Unless　。。。　
　　I　will　walk　into　the　Jaddite　camp　so　soon　as　word　es　from　you　that　you　have　elected　to　cross　to　Al…Rassan　and　cleanse　it　of　those　who　must　be　driven　back　lest　this　land　be　lost　to　Ashar　and　the　Star…born。
　　It　was　a　Kindath　saying　this；　offering　this。
　　Yazir　imagined　his　reply　being　carried　north　and　east；　one　rider　after　another；　city　to　city；　and　then　a　carrier　bird　loosed　from　hills　near　Ragosa。　He　imagined　that　bird　landing　in　the　city；　his　scribe…crafted　note　carried　to　the　sorcerer。　Yazir　pictured　him　reading　it。
　　Strange；　strangest　thing　of　all：　he　never　doubted　for　a　moment　that　the　man　would　do　what　he　said。
　　The　king　will　not　take　happily　to　my　presuming　to　send　this　letter；　and　I　beg　your　own　forgiveness　for　my　impertinence。　Should　you　agree　with　my　unworthy　thoughts；　O　Sword　of　Ashar；　leader　of　all　the　tribes；　send　only　the　words　〃It　shall　be　as　has　been　written；〃　and　I　alone　will　understand　and　offer　thanks　to　you　and　act　as　I　have　said。　May　whatever　sins　Ragosa　holds　in　Ashar's　sight　and　your　own　be　deemed　to　rest　upon　my　head　as　I　walk　out。　My　own　people　in　this　city　honor　their　Asharite　king　and　know　their　proper　place。　If　there　has　been　arrogance　and　presumption　it　has　been　my　own；　and　I　am　prepared　to　make　atonement。
　　The　crescent　of　the　white　moon　lay　almost　upon　the　sea。　Yazir　watched　as　it　slipped　down　and　out　of　sight。　The　innumerable　stars　were　everywhere　in　the　sky　and　the　innumerable　sands　were　about　him。
　　He　heard　a　footfall；　and　knew　it。
　　〃You　asked　me　to　e　at　white　moonset；〃　his　brother　said　softly；　crouching　on　his　haunches　beside　Yazir's　spread　cloak。　〃Do　we　cross？　Do　we　wait？　Do　we　sail　for　the　homelands？〃
　　Yazir　drew　a　breath。　There　were　deaths　and　deaths　to　e。　Man　was　born　into　this　world　to　die。　Best　do　it　in　the　service　of　Ashar；　essaying　those　things　that　could　truly　be　done。
　　〃Soriyya　is　too　far；〃　he　said。　〃I　do　not　think　either　of　us　are　destined　to　see　the　homelands；　my　brother。〃
　　Ghalib　said　nothing；　waiting。
　　〃I　would　be　happier　in　spring；〃　Yazir　said。
　　His　brother's　teeth　showed　in　the　darkness。　〃You　are　never　happy；〃　Ghalib　said。
　　Yazir　looked　away。　It　was　true；　of　late。　He　had　been　happy　once；　as　a　young　man；　without　any　great　cares；　in　the　Zuhrite　lands　south　of　where　they　were　tonight。　Before　his　feet　had　been　placed　on　a　path　of　righteousness　carved　in　blood。
　　〃We　will　cross　the　straits；〃　he　said。　〃Beginning　tomorrow。　We　will　not　allow　the　Sons　of　Jad　to　burn　any　more　of　the　Star…born；　or　take　any　more　cities；　however　far　our　people　may　have　strayed　from　Ashar's　path。　We　wi